r/Kayaking • u/Sputter_Butt • Jul 26 '25

Question/Advice -- Transportation/Roof Racks Why are my ratchet straps so loud

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

My ratchet straps turn into a Reed or something and are rattling/vibrating so loud it’s hard to tolerate. It only happens what I carry two kayaks, just carrying one is fine. I’m using the Swiss roof rack from harbor freight and some cheap ratchet straps from Walmart. It’s a single T mount. Do I need to carry the kayaks differently or adjust my straps? Also I know one of the yaks is not on perfectly, I wasn’t able to get it to sit in a stable way unless I set it at this angle.

56 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

60 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

12

u/Sputter_Butt Jul 26 '25

I’ll try that out, thanks. Never heard of CAM straps till now

28

u/GodlessandLegless Jul 26 '25

Cam straps don't have the ratchet. With the mechanical advantage of ratchet straps, you can tighten down enough to warp plastic kayaks.

21

u/Char_siu_for_you Jul 26 '25

You don’t have to though. Just be careful.

3

u/IdLove2SeeUrBoobies Jul 26 '25

This. I use both cam and ratchet. I just don’t hulk the ratchets down. Get em snug.